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January 29, 2015 - Image 17

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2015-01-29

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

"FINISHED"

"'Wig.,

Weekend

Wreckage

Vandalism at ski resorts leads

to

suspensions

for six U-M

fraternities and sororities.

I

One side is shiny
and the other is satin
with cord or chain.

Owens said staff members had tried to

Ronelle Grier

Treetops

work with the students

Saturday night,
asking several times for them to "tone

Writer

Contributing

Resort and

Spa general

manager Barry Owens described
the destruction caused during a

Unique

recent

weekend ski

trip attended by about
University of Michigan

270 members of the

chapters of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and
Sigma Delta Tau sorority as "mind blowing:'
"I never saw or heard of anything like

Jewelry,

Affordably

Priced

m

Township, near Gaylord.
The students occupied about 60 of the

beer cans, wine, you name it;' said Owens,
who added that the U M administration

resort's 240

has been very

rooms.

repair estimates

Q.

edly occupied by about

(j)

o

100-120 students

from four other U M sororities and frater­

-

also vandalized,

s:

�...) {

+-J



� ---··Y-"'---'�-�---
U)

...

....

EUPHORIA earrings in



G)

ster[ing silver

and diamonds.

Telegraph
Bloomfield Twp., MI

or

individuals involved.

Snyder, executive director of Sigma
Delta Tau, a historically Jewish-based soror­
ity, said the U M chapter is on "temporary
social probation" during the investigation.
Sigma Alpha Mu has been suspended from
all activities, including meetings, social
and educational events, philanthropy and

-

48301

248-671-0087

www.mbjewelrydesign.com

recruitment.

29

"

2015

during a walk-through inspec­

tion after the students had checked out.

The

Michigan State Police were called and

report was filed, but management has
not yet determined whether to pursue legal

a

action.

The vandalism, which received national

media coverage, has impacted students and
administrators across the U M campus. In

-

Treetops

broken

Treetops

Treetops,

filled with broken

community.

"It

Gaylord.

a

a

can

be

a

one's actions

"Our primary concern is

M

reaching qut informally to students in the
Greek houses involved in the incident to

help them cope with the ramifications of

ashamed of the behavior" of some of its

tion and the student leadership of Greek

members. He says the chapter "accepts full
responsibility" and "will be working with

Life and Central Student Government for

the actions of some of their members. She

commended the

university administra­

doing an excellent job making it clear that
the students' behavior is disappointing and

does not reflect the values of the

university

tiles and

challenging for students to
spotlight on a community they love
and to feel embarrassed by a situation and

have

ability and justice:'

-

hallway is

ceiling

combined resources "to enforce account­

Tilly Shames, executive director of U
Hillel, said her organization has been

and

kitchen at

Resort.

Bottom: At

Krupiak and Panhellenic Association
apologized for the
destruction, calling it "an act of shocking
disrespect:' The group vowed to use its

President Maddy Walsh

trashed at

garbage

cupboards in

debris.

Alex

rooms

Resort near

joint letter, Student Body President Bobby
Dishell, Interfraternity Council President

a

Joshua Kaplan, president ofU-M's Sigma
Alpha Mu chapter, issued a statement last
week saying the group is "embarrassed and

the management of the resort to pay for all
damages and cleaning costs:'

16 January

and hold them accountable;' Owens said.
The vandalism at Boyne Highlands was

Center: Excessive

Debbie

Rd.

have national

upholstery requiring deep cleaning and/or
replacement.

suspensions vary depend­
ing on the Greek organization involved.

6600

apologetic and cooperative,

representatives of Sigma
AlphaMu.
"They are all concerned and intend to let
the kids know they made a serious mistake

as

involved at

Terms of the

-

-

Top: One of many

office, administrators of

-

nizations

Bloomfield Plaza

bottles,

ed broken furniture, fixtures and doors,
holes in drywall, and soiled carpeting and

chapter ofJewish fraternity Sigma Alpha

Mu by its national

Boyne Highlands are not Jewish:
Pi Kappa Alpha and Chi Psi fraternities and
Alpha Phi and Delta Gamma sororities.
Fitzgerald said this action will give the
university time to sort out additional details
before placing added sanctions on the orga­

MB JEWELRY DESIGN

-

lowed suit, according to U M spokesperson
Rick Fitzgerald. The other Greek houses

causing more

-

o

the place

the other fraternities and sororities have fol­

were

than $50,000 in repair costs.
Following the suspension of the U M

-

over

"We're extremely disappointed by the
disrespectful behavior of these students
and expect full repayment of damages from
the individuals responsible;' said Mike
Chumbler, president/general manager of
the resort. The worst of the damages includ­

nities

2

of alcohol all

discovered

::J

:3

<D
D

surpass $100,000 once all
have been compiled.

During the same weekend, Jan. 16-18,
a dozen condominiums at the Boyne
Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs alleg­

o

More Destruction

located in Dover

cupboard doors, demolished ceiling tiles,
damaged walls, furniture and carpeting,
and hallways filled with massive amounts of
debris. Owens estimated the damages will

�----------------�o

despite the students' assurances to the con­
trary. Early Sunday morning, Owens called
the police, who ordered the students to
vacate the premises and escorted them out.

"There was food and excessive amounts

en

Silver, Platinum, RG,

down" the noise, but the "excessive party­
ing" escalated as the evening went on,

this before;' said Owens, who has worked in
the resort industry for 29 years. Treetops is

The destruction included smashed wood­

You don't need to spend a
fortune to show your love.

on

or

inactions;' Shames said.

always the stu­

dent, and that our students know they have

someone

to talk to on campus when faced

with these

tough lessons:'
Michigan State Police, along with
some campus
organizations, are conducting
to
investigations determine exactly what
happened and who was responsible.

The

At press time, prosecutors had not issued
formal charges against the students, but

Owens said

nue

to press

sible for the

Treetops "will pursue every ave­
charges against those respon­

damage to our resort:' D

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